RightToLead.com

Want your employees to believe in you? Prove that you believe in them.

Remember the king who ran from his castle shouting, “Show me where my people are going, so I can lead them.” It still happens, only now the king has morphed into a gaggle of managers who think they can lead - or worse, manage - their people. Nothing could be further from the truth. We now know you really can’t lead people anywhere unless they want to follow, and that comes down to having confidence in their leader.

According to a recent study of 150 small- to medium-sized businesses that was conducted by Success Profiles, a diagnostic firm in Bozeman, Montana, whether or not employees really believe in their bosses clearly affects company growth. Specifically, organizations whose workers had low to average scores in confidence and trust in their leaders showed moderate growth in revenues, around 30 percent over two years. But those with above-average scores - in other words, ones whose employees really had faith in their leaders - grew at an astonishing 95 percent over the same period.

The conclusion: Great leadership, defined by the confidence employees have in higher-ups, makes a huge difference in business success. Here are three specific ways to build trust in your organization.

1.Solicit Feedback
The best way to find out how you’re really doing as a leader is by asking those who work for you. But confidence and trust are delicate areas, so you have to ask sensitively - and often. When you do get these “upward evaluations,” make sure you take the information seriously and act on it. The quickest way to reduce employee loyalty is to ask for, receive, and then ignore feedback.

2.Challenge the Imagination
Faith in you on the part of your employees is a direct result of the faith you have in them. Be provocative whenever possible - by challenging their imagination, you’re asking them to do something great, and thereby demonstrating that you truly believe in their abilities. Confidence and trust are earned attributes, so rest assured that the more you give, the more you’ll get.

3.Be Politic, Not Political
There’s a big difference: Being politic means being sensitive to the needs of everyone around you. Playing politics is a different matter. Being a shrewd or crafty schemer does not inspire loyalty - just the opposite. You may win battles through adroit maneuvering, but you lose the war of respect. Employees want someone who stands up for his or her beliefs, does not act the weasel, and is generally fair to everyone. If you do this, employees will feel safe with you … and gladly accompany you as their leader.

There you have it: three simple, but not simplistic, ways to become the 21st century leader your people want and deserve. If you adhere to these methods, then confidence, trust, and real business results will ensue.